Lakeview Commons, SnowGlobe rules back to council

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Proposed regulations surrounding special events in South Lake Tahoe, including concerts at Lakeview Commons and the SnowGlobe Music Festival, will be back in front of the City Council next week.

The city has made several revisions to the proposals following a February meeting where event promoters expressed concerns about the regulations.

A proposed cap of 2,000 attendees was removed from the proposal. A series of events would require only one notification to nearby residents, and only if the events would exceed 500 people. Each event will also be evaluated on a case-by-case basis as to whether Lakeview Avenue will be temporarily closed, according to a staff report by City Manager Nancy Kerry. A request for proposal process for event series like concerts and movie nights has also been suggested by city staff. Rental fees would still apply to the use of Lakeview Commons for many events.

Making sure Lakeview Avenue was closed during concerts at the beach venue was a concern of Rob Giustina, the promoter of the popular Live at Lakeview Series in 2012. He said he did not want to promote concerts at the venue due to public safety concerns if the road was left open.

On Friday, Giustina said he had not seen the changes to the proposals, but said he was hopeful he would be able to work with the city to bring the events back this summer.

“We are continuing to move forward in partnership with the city to make sure these events continue,” Giustina said. The event promoter said he is looking for sponsors for the events, as well as volunteers to help with the concerts.

Also next week, the Council will discuss the future of the SnowGlobe Music Festival. Kerry said in the staff report the event is being “courted” by North Lake Tahoe and has requested support from the city to keep the event at the South Shore.

SnowGlobe promoters have requested a five-year agreement to return to the playfields near Lake Tahoe Community College over the three days leading up to New Year’s Day, a waiver of all city facility rental fees and financial support from the city and business community, according to the staff report.

Kerry recommends against waiving the approximately $33,000 in fees paid to the city by the festival in fairness to other event promoters. Also in the staff report she says damage to the fields from the festival, primarily from heavy equipment, is a bigger concern than the fees. Options to cover the field start at $250,000, with replacement costing up to $750,000, Kerry said.

The City Council meets starting at 9 a.m. at Lake Tahoe Airport, located at 1901 Airport Road.